Picture screen supporting structure



` Jan. 6, 1948.

.1.71'. HECK Er Al. v `PICTURE SCREEN SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed May 12. 1944 Patented Jan. 6, 1 948 PICTURE SCREEN SUPPORTING STRUCTURE John rr. Heck, Elmhurst, ana Leo J. Du Mais, AChicago, Ill., assignors to ,Dra-Lite Screen Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 12, 1944, Serial No. 535,363

8 Claims. (Cl. 16o-24) 'I'he present invention relates to improvements in a portable picture screen and is more particularly directed to the picture screen supporting structure on which Vis carried a suitable reel of picture screen which may be easily and readily set up for use and collapsed for portable purposes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a. picture screen supporting structure which is inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable, simple in construction and having the fewest number of parts to facilitate assembling and with the co-acting parts so arranged and constructed to be releasably adjusted to various positions to expose predetermined lengths of picture screen and to maintain these predetermined exposed lengths of screen throughout the entire range of adjustments.

A further object is the provision of a structure wherein the picture screen reel is suitably carried in a case which has a pivoted U-shaped bracket of spring steel secured thereto and which bracket frictionally grips its companion member to permanently retain the bracket and the case in xed position thereon.

And a further object is the provision of a tripod structure in which the pivotal connections are so arranged as to be self locking in any position to which the tripod is opened.

A still further object is the provision of a structure which permits a pivotal swinging adjustment of the picture screen after the same has been set up for use.

Other and further objects will become apparent from the ensuing description and claims,

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the structure in upright position with the tripod extended to support the same and illustrating the case in locked position parallel with the structure.

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial detail sectional view of the upper portion of the screen structure illustrating the extension rod locking the same in position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view illustrating the case bracket and the method for locking the same on its upright structure.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail perspective View of the spring bracket illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is enlarged partial detail sectional view illustrating the adjusting means for varying the height of the case on the structure. and the manual means for locking the same in selected f ations.

for limiting the extreme upward movement of the tube.

Figure 6 is Aan enlarged vertical detail sectional view illustrating the locking and holding means at the upper portion of the structure and with spring means serving as a stop for limiting the extreme upward movement of the extension rod.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail perspective View of the spring shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the end cap at each end of the case serving as a pivotal center for the screen roller.

Figure 9 is a schematic diagrammatic View illustrating the arrangement of the tripod for adjusting the same to various heights and whereby it is automatically retained in any adjusted position without locking means.

Figure '10 is an enlarged detail Vertical sectional view illustratingl a modified form of stop means for theintermediate member. Figure 11 is a detail cross sectional view taken substantially on the line II-II of Figure 10.

'.It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the structure is so simplified as to be easily assembled by merely attaching one part to the other, the parts being so arranged that they will be permanently retained in position while the structure is being assembled.

The accompanying drawings, therefore, are submitted merely as showing the preferred eX- emplication of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral I5 designates a structure embodying the invention. Thersame includes telescopable members arranged and designated in the following manner, the larger tube vII being at the lower portionl of the structure, the intermediate tube II and the upper member or square extension rod I8.

The tubular member I1 and the extension rod I8 co-act to raise or lower the height of the supporting structure and the tripod designated as a whole as I9 also co-acts to adjust the height of the screen when the structure is set up in usable position.

The tripod I9 is of a novel construction and is secured to the lower end of the tube member I6 with the yupper end of the tripod free to slide along the tube for collapsing and opening the tripod during the closing and setting up oper- The pivotal centers of the tripod legs 20 and connecting `arms 2I are so arranged that the raised positions and also Vshowing the stop means slidable or top'sleeve 22 of the tripod may be positioned to extend the legs at the desired angle' length A of the legs 20 to be 19% inches from their pivotal centers 23 to the free endthereof,

the arms 2| will have one end pivoted tofthe leg 20 at a distance B of approximately 8'1/8 inches from the leg pivots 23', andthe. armse2j| will have a length C of 678inchesrbetweentheir.

pivotal centers 24 and 25, respectively. The lower fitting 26 of the tripod I9 is secured tothe tube I6 and 27, and the tripod is easily collapsed and with the upper sleeve 2N2 thereof slidableonzthe tube member I6 and adjustable for various heights .depending on thefespan reunited of the legs. Due to the frctional contact of theffree ends of the v legs with `the surface on which-k. the tripod is' restingg/a frictionalresistance-W1l.be afforded to Athe legs f2!! and -by reason of their pivotal connections 2 5 with-thearmsZ I thetripod win remain in its adjusted @position-to smeert the structure. In constructing a tripod of this type `as mentioned ab.ove,it; 1`snotnecessar f; to have a locking member or .screwtores` lip-ing theY same `in open'` position, as lthev weight vvof g the structure on 1- the tripod will only .Servette -ghoid the samemorerigid,

'I'hetube It isgprovidedatitsY upper end portion withaoap 2.8 which has ai thumb screwgZBgtherein and-this tube .IIB andcap;28 .4 receive the lower ,end of `the intermediate tube I-:'I .and with fthe SQIQW 29 serving to retainthe;intermediate-tubelocked in. anyheight to which itis adjusted. {I'heintermediate tube ,ITI is .alsoprovided witha cap 3B (Figs. 1 and 6) which retainsa-sprinezlirLXed position ,at theztopedge oftube LI'I. Thespring 3| is formedto overlie theedge.-Oftlaeftube;v Ig'I and withthe innerleg 3 Iathereoidepending inwardly at an. anglev to exert` apressure. on the l.extension rod YL8 .which is slidably .positioned within the tube .1.1. `The cap 3E! i-s `provided .withaisquare opening .32..in `the .top thereof whichgpermitsrof a longitudinal vsliding movement of ,the .rod i8 against the tension of the springil. V .Ifherodfli is Aprovided '.with a .plurality 4oi :transverse kerfs 33, 3,4 and .35 zwhicharearranged Aat .predetermined intervals on .thelfront ffacef ,thesquare extensionrod i8, and are of asuiiicientdepthto engage thezsquare opening 3.2 ofthe capf3Il.y These kerfs .extend transversely .across the face... of the rodand when the rodiszraised;A thetensionofthe spring 3i will `force the rodagainst the cap `until oneoi" thekerfs registerswiththe cap to lock the rod therewith. vThe kerf-.133 serves to .lockthe case vertically.

The. rearward aceof theextension rodl isalso provided nearits lower end porticn with anangular cutaway .portion whichpmvidesashoulder 31 `against which .the leg .3l @..of the .spring .3l .will engage when the rodisnbroughtfto extreme upward position. This shoulder 3'! provides ,La positive stop for the upward movement ,of rthe rod and prevents itsv accidental withdrawingffrornthe tube il. Y-Ihekerfse,v ed, and providedtinthe rod andwhich .kerfs engage the square .opening 32er4 the capil are spacedfso as Vto determine .the

predetermined length of screen web to be .extended vfrom-the screen reel when .thefreezend of vthe web is attached nto ythe upper Aportion .of .the

extension rod. The upper portion of the extension rod I8 is provided with a horizontal forwardly extending portion I8' 1 that terminates into a hook portion I8b which has a dual purpose. One purpose of this hook I 8b is to lock the case in vertical position with the structure and its other purpose is toj.attach the-tree end of the screen web thereto vforr use.

The end caps 33 attached to each end of the -case 39 are of concave formation and receive the hook ,Ib ofthe extension rod I8 for holding the `.Clase in position as above mentioned. The case .Alu secured to the case and with the pivot 40 attachedrto-a/rider 152 which is of spring material and4 inthe shape of a Swedish clamp. In order to assemble the rider on the tube I7 the legs 43 andAAthereof are expanded to substantially horizontal position and thetube Il is then inserted through the openings- 45- andfeii respectively,- until the. tube l-I is iniits proper positionandtheneree leasing therider to-permit thesame to Acla.mptl'ie tube i I'I: by reason. of.- its formation-to permanently secureY the .1 rider in Vvposition onethe tube. When thestructureisin normal-closed or opened position, the rider 42 rests on the cap 28 of theltube I E which is the central position, tol permity the case l39.tobeI freelyswung from vertical to horizontal positionwhen. the tripod. I 9 is extendedto support the structure in vertical position. The members lleandvl'l being round permit ofvapivotal swingingfmovement of the upperportionvof the'str-ueturetO properly, alignthe screen.

As Aabove noted, the case end caps :38 jare `et concave formationrd'l Vand areV each provided, centrally thereof. with. a combination .roun-d.v and rectangular opening 48 to receiveeither the pin-cr blade en d,.49 (only one of whichk isshown) of a s pringroller 5,0 pivotally supported -in thecase between the .end caps. -A lengthbf .screen web 5Ik is attached and coiled aroundthe-rollerfiiand theiree. end ofthe web isprovidedwith afpocket 5 2 .into which is .inserted aslat ES-whioh hasta Slat-pull 54 that provides meansforfdrawing out the 44screenvveb from the ease .3 9 and for attaching thesame to thehook lah of the extension rod I3.

The tube lI'I is .provided near its lowerendportionwith a sheared out upwardly projectinglug V5.5 which permitsthe lower endofthetube II to -beinserted intothe tube I6 through. thecap28 and fat .Whichtime .the `lug ,will yield .until ,l it vhas passed the cap and will then spring outwardly -toform astopto limit. the extreme upward .movement of the tube by reasonofthe.engagement of the lug 55 with the under surface of thecap.

*Referring now more specifically to Figures -10 and ,.11.whichtshowamodifed-form of stopmeans furthe tube .IJ `and which tube in thisform is designated:as I'Ia. This tube ,I'Ia is providednear its 4lower .end portion with an annular groove torrninga shoulder 5.6 which isbrought intoengagernenyt with the spring 51 when thetube is raised. The spring is secured between the ,top end of the tube Isa and the cap 232L and offers a frictional resistance tothe sliding movements of the *tube VIjlafwhich is retained in adjusted positions by means o f a thumb screw 58 which'is threadedthrough the cap 28a and the tube ISE. As .th'ertube .lala is raised and has reached its uppermostiposition the end 51a of the spring 51 Willengage'the groove 56 of the tubeand limit its upward movement to prevent the accidental removalofithe tubecIi,a from thetube Ita.

As.wil11be;noted in Figure, the/cap is of-a one piece formation and is constructed -to receive either the pin end or blade end of the roller 50 and these caps provide a perfect guide to pivotally support the roller centrally of the case. The concave portion of the case end caps will receive the hook portion Ib of the extension rod I8 to lock the case 39 in position when the structure is collapsed for portable purposes.

As above pointed out, a supporting structure of this character will require a minimum amount of material and the arrangement of parts and their. construction will facilitate the a-ssembling of the device with an appreciable saving in the cost of manufacture. 1

Weclaim:

1. In la supporting structure employing a pluralityv of telescopable members, the uppermost pair of telescopable members cooperating to support a reeled screen web in extended condition, one of said pair of telescopable members having the screen web reel permanently secured thereto, means on the other of said pair of telescopable members for attachment of the free end of the screen web thereto for supporting predetermined exposed lengths of the screen web unwound from the reel, means on said telescopable members cooperating to retain them in adjusted positions the said one telescopable member being adjustable with respect to the lowermost member, and means coacting with said one and lowermost telescopable members for facilitating manual adjustment thereof.

2. In a supporting structure of the character described, the combination of a plurality of telescopable members having supporting legs, the two uppermost pair of telescopable members cooperating to support a reeled screen web in extended condition, one of said telescopable members having the screen web reel secured thereto, a screen web mounted on said reel, means on the other of said uppermost telescopable members to which the free end of the screen web is attached for supporting predetermined lengths of screen web unwound from the reel, means on said telescopable members cooperating to retain them in adjusted positions, said means comprising an inwardly directed extension on said one telescopable member and a plurality of openings in the said other telescopable member and with spring means urging said last mentioned member into engagement with the inwardly directed extension, and means on said one member coacting with the lowermost telescopable member for locking the same at different heights thereon.

3. In a supporting structure of the character described, the combination of at least three telescopable members, the largest of said members having supporting legs, a screen web and reel pivotally attached to the intermediate telescopathe reel while retaining the adjusted screenk length.

4. In a supporting structure employing telescopable members having supporting legs, a screen web and reel carried on an intermediate telescopable membenthe upper telescopable member cooperating with the intermediate member for holding a predetermined length of screen web unwound from the reel, means on said intermediate Vand upper telescopable membersV of transverse slot openings, manually controlled lock means on said vintermediate and ylower telescopable members for locking the intermediate member at different heights on the lower member while 'maintaining the predetermined length of screen web, and stop means coacting between said Vintermediate and lower members preventing separation-thereof. f f

5. In a supporting structure of the character described, the combination of three telescopable members, a reeled screen web attached for pivotal movement to the intermediate telescopable member, the upper telescopable member being adjustable with respect to said intermediate member and having means thereon for attachment of the screen web thereto, and a tripod carried-by the lower ltelescopable member, said tripod comprising a slidable sleeve and a fixed lower fitting and with the tripod legs being pivoted to said sleeve and each leg having a connecting arm pivoted thereto at a point above its longitudinal center, the length of each arm being less than the distance between its pivot to the associated leg and the pivot of said legs to the sleeve, said arms having their other ends pivoted to said fixed fitting and supporting the weight of the structure which is transferred to the legs through the arms thereby holding the arms and legs in adjusted open position without the use of locking means.

6. In a supporting structure of the character described, the combination of three telescopable members, a reeled screen web carried for pivotal movement on the intermediate telescopable member, the upper telescopable member being adjustable with respect to said intermediate member and having means thereon for attachment of the screen web thereto, and a tripod connected to the lower telescopable member, said tripod comprising pivoted legs each having a connecting arm pivoted thereto above the center point of its length and each arm having a length less than the distance between the pivotal center of the legs and the pivotal point of the arm to the associated leg, thereby facilitating the adjustment and positioning of the legs to any desired angle, said legs remaining in adjusted positions without the use of locking means.

7. In a supporting structure of the character described, a reeled screen web pivotally carried thereon, an adjustable member on the structure, said member having means thereon for attachment of the screen web thereto, a bracket of spring material positively gripping the structure and providing the pivotal center of the reeled screen web, said bracket being of substantially U-shape and having an opening in each leg thereof through which the structure extends to be permanently gripped thereby for holding the reeled screen web in fixed pivotal position on the structure and m-ovable with the structure.

8. In a supporting structure employing telescopable members having supporting legs therefor, a case having a screen web and reel carried therein and for rotation on an intermediate telescgpableifmembenf vthe.upper@offsaid telescopable members-.fibeirggqadaptedffor Avertical.Yfadjustment anducooperatirgg Yvani-th.theeintermediate member for holdingA a predetermined length of screen web v.un-wound froml-fthe'reelfmeans .on said:.inter mediateupper telescopable members for-ming 1oek-means for holding-` them-in normal and raised; positions, saidl leek means Vcomprising a c a-p.-:havingtran',Qpenmgz therenua-nd xed-.tmthe intermediate member and-said upper -me1rrber` hauinggprefdeterminedwslot.openingsutherein Vand. beirgg; fslideable -and -shiftable for transverse movements,rand-.- aA spring retained by said. cap-in the; iutermediate member yand urging. the. upper member .against f one edgeiof the ,cap ropening Vfor engagement, of; the -vslot openings of -said uppermost member withY the cap, ,and rmeans on y.said upper; member adapted f, to. engage the case for locking the same against movement when-said case and v ree] Y1 are -in parallel 1 relation with the structure.

JOHN T. HECK. v.LEO J. DUMAIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

